62 A Return To Normalcy? (2/2)
Madelyn: ”Come on, bro. Your big sister is asking you to cheer up.”
Steven: ”You remember?”
Madelyn: ”Heh, yeah. I actually thought you were the one that forgot.”
Steven: ”What? I thought you forgot.”
She rests her chin on top of my head and laughs. I never knew that being embraced like this could make me feel better. It's like she's zapping away all my negative emotions and making me feel warm inside.
Madelyn: ”Are you feeling better?”
Steven: ”Yes, now will you stop leaning against me so much? You're like a monkey.”
She leans further, knocking us both off-balance and almost falling off the bed together.
Steven: ”No, stop! We're going to fall off the bed!”
Lilith: ”Ahaha~”
We both fall back on the bed and laugh.
Have we been this close? She's a lot more open and playful than before. Now that she calmed down, Madelyn moves back over to the side of her bed and finishes her meal.
I stood up to straighten out my clothes and pick up their trays. I was planning on checking up on the others and I may as well take the trays. While Madelyn was looking at maps with Lilith, I moved close to her and pulled her into a hug of my own.
Madelyn: ”Ah! This was unexpected!”
Steven: ”Not used to it or what?”
She shakes her head and I reached out to Lilith.
Steven: ”You too, come here.”
She smiled and joined us in a group hug. These people are my friends; I wouldn't want it any other way.
Steven: ”Thanks, both of you. I'll be checking up on Young Mi and Rayna. Do either of you want anything while I'm out?”
Lilith: ”I'm fine.”
Madelyn: ”Same.”
I grabbed the trays and left the dorms. The cafeteria happened to be in the direction I needed to go and wasn't far from the dorms. After dropping off the trays, a light shower started and I picked up the pace.
Outside one of many buildings where the staff resided, a teacher saw me by the entrance and promptly stopped me from going further. He seemed like a good man. His hair was short and parted to the left. Wearing steel spectacles and having a small stubble. It was more or less of what someone would have after not shaving for a week.
Teacher: ”Sorry, but do you have business here?”
Steven: ”My sister lives here. Would it be fine if I visited her?”
He scratches his stubble and looked down the hallway, slightly confused. He might be new and probably doesn't know his way around too well. Unless he's paranoid; he doesn't want to take his eyes off me.
Faculty Member: ”What's your sister's name?”
Steven: ”Young Mi.”
Faculty Member: ”Young Mi? Ah, let's see… I'll walk you to her.”
The dorms had an organized system that took some getting used to but once you do, it can be efficient. All someone had to do was remember what room they were looking for. There was the main hallway and 6 smaller hallways that branched out. Young Mi and Rayna had Hallway C, Room 20, right in the middle of the building.
The teacher knocked on the door and it was Young Mi that opened up shortly after.
Young Mi: ”Yes, may I help you?”
Faculty Member: ”Young Mi? I believe your brother is here to meet you.”
Young Mi: ”Brother?”
She sees me instantly goes along with it.
Young Mi: ”Oh, Steven! Yes, he's my little brother. I was expecting him 10 minutes ago.”
An excellent bluff by Young Mi!
The faculty member sighs in relief.
Faculty Member: ”I see, well, I'll leave him with you.”
Young Mi pulls me into her room and shuts the door. She put her ear to the door to make sure the teacher had properly left before glancing over to me with an icy glare. For a self-described pacifist, she can sure be intimidating.
Young Mi: ”Would you mind explaining yourself?”
Steven: ”I didn't want to get in trouble.”
Young Mi: ”Well, no harm is done. Was there something you needed?”
Steven: ”I haven't seen either you or Rayna all day, so I wanted to check up.”
She moves to a lounge chair and sits. Picking up an open book before leaning back and getting comfortable.
Young Mi: ”I've been reading and Rayna could be here any minute. You can stay, I certainly don't mind.”
I sat on a bed across from her and took in the environment. It's certainly high class, not on par with a noble's bedroom but way better I've seen on Esnia so far. There were 2 beds separated by a table with a lamp and personal items on it. Their bags were under it with some of Rayna's clothes sloppily coming out of her's.
Young Mi's lounge chair seems to be made of a mix of dark leather and fine fabric. The floors were mahogany wood, a trend I've seen with the academy. Her bed was comfortable and covered with a heavy wool-lined blanket appropriate for the winter season. The same with the other bed, except the pillows, which were made of jute.
I wonder why they'd put in so much effort for an Academy isolated on this part of the globe. Then again, why are there so many people this far out just to attend the academy?
Rayna enters the room with several rolled pieces of parchment.
Rayna: ”Oh, hey, Steven! What brings you here?”
Steven: ”Checking up on everyone. I haven't seen you 2 all day!”
Young Mi: ”Did you get what I asked for, Rayna?”
She hands the rolled pieces of parchment to her, who then gets up and places them on the table between the beds.
Young Mi: ”Great, we can get started tomorrow.”
Steven: ”What's going on?”
Young Mi: ”Finishing up some work. Did Madelyn tell you about the Fae?”
Steven: ”Oh, yeah she did.”
Since Rayna was here, I figured it was a good a time as any to ask questions and find out if Livia really is my friend.
Steven: ”Rayna, what does Twilight know about me?”
Rayna: ”How would I know?”
Steven: ”You're a Loremaster.”
She sighs and sits on her bed.
Rayna: ”I'll tell you but you'll owe me.”
Steven: ”Alright.”
Rayna: ”What exactly do you think they know about you?”
Steven: ”Everything?”
Rayna: ”Well, they know you originated from Feles Isle; migrated to Everhand and were kidnapped.”
Steven: ”Anything before Feles Isle?”
Rayna: ”Nope… they came up empty-handed.”
That doesn't help anything at all. I'm pretty sure the Headmaster already knew about my home before Livia came into the picture.
Steven: ”And nothing about me being a servant?”
Rayna: ”Not until you told them.”
Yes!
They didn't know the one secret only a few people know. Maybe Livia is still my friend otherwise she would've told the Headmaster. I sighed in relief and laughed weakly while falling onto the bed.
Rayna: ”Relieved? Something must've been bothering you. Do you want to stay the night with us and talk?”
I shook my head.
Steven: ”I have to go back to Madelyn and Lilith.”
Young Mi: ”I'll tell them that you're staying with us. I had to drop something off anyways, so it's not bothersome for me.”
Steven: ”Young Mi—”
Young Mi: ”No, it's fine; stay with us. You're more than welcome to stay.”
Steven: ”Fine… just tell them that I'm better.”
Young Mi leaves the room and it becomes me and Rayna. She looked up at me, worriedly.
Rayna: ”Can you tell me what's bothering you?”
Steven: ”Well, I thought someone was pretending to be my friend.”
Rayna: ”Was it someone in our group?”
Steven: ”My best friend—from Everhand.”
Rayna: ”O-oh…”
Since there wasn't much to do, I made myself at home in Rayna's bed. She didn't mind me and sat across from me in her spot.
Steven: ”Ahh~”
Rayna: ”Comfortable, right?”
Steven: ”They put a lot of money into this academy.”
Rayna: ”Wine?”
She reaches into her bag and pulls out a bottle of red wine. It had no label making it difficult to identify what type it was. She poured me a glass and I spun around before taking a sip. It wasn't like any other wines I tasted before! My mouth exploded with candied fruitiness followed by spice and often a tobacco-like smoky finish.
Steven: ”Mm, what is this?”
Rayna: ”Laoquan wine.”
Steven: ”It's very sweet!”
Rayna: ”It's why I like it.”
It's too sweet for my liking but it's the closest I'll get to being drunk.
Rayna: ”It's been quiet the past 2 days, hasn't it?”
Steven: ”Thankfully… we still have to deal with these students while Madelyn does her thing.”
Rayna: ”As soon as the Headmistress gives us the order, we'll bring down these students.”
Steven: ”You ever figure out their motive?”
Rayna: ”It's not easy… my best guess is that it's a cultural thing of Wood Elves.”
Steven: ”Eh, Wood Elves start trouble?”
Rayna: ”No, I mean they're very independent and with Ostroven trying to annex Esnia, they see it as an act of violence.”
I'm only here to do a mission. Whatever these students want, they're not doing it for the right reasons. Attacking innocent people only alienates them from those that would support them. They're doing it for their own selfish, demented reasons.
Steven: ”Whatever the case: let's do our job and return to Sefre.”
Rayna: ”To us?”
She raises her glass half full of wine.
Steven: ”To us.”